Fuse block



A TTOR/VE/ May 28, 1929.

Z W NZ Vf WM f F. T. KOVAR Filed Sept. 13, 1924 Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES- FRANK '1.,'. KOVAB, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FUSE BLOCK.

applicati@ med september 13, i924. serial No. 737,508.

Y This invention relates to improvements in fuse blocks or cut-outs forelectrical work, the blocks being designed to be used in the usual panelboxes.

It is an object of my invention to devise 1 a fuse block that can bereadily assembled in panel boxes so that the number of said blocks maybe increased or decreased to vary the size of the panel desired.

It is a further object of my invention that the nature of these blocksrender them readily accessible not only for mounting individual blocks,but also to replace parts of an individual block without replacing partsnot needing repair.

It is -a particular advantage of` my construction that each fuse blockis made in two parts or sections, one superposed upon the other, onlythe upper part in the great majority of cases needing removal orreplacement. This results in a very economical. and simple structure.

Itp's a still further object of my invention. to make my fuse blocks ofsuperposed sections, only the lower section being connected' to the busbars, and the upper section carrying the fuse sockets. j

It is a further object of my invention to provide fuse blocks for panelboxes, which are made in superposed sections, the up er section beingreadily replaceable without isengaging the lower section from the box.

With these and other objects in view the detailedv structure of myimprovement will appear in the following specification, the

novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims and theinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of theapplication, in which,-

Figure 1 is aview showing in plan the manner of assembling the fuseblocks in a panel box, a portion of the cover section of an end blockbeing removed;

Figure 2 is a rontelevation with one end in longitudinal section, of oneof the intermeliate blocks according to .my invention, an

Figure 3 is a view of an end block showing` in elevation, the superposedsections in position and the ends of the bus bars connected with wireconnectors, a copper plate for connection with various branches beingshown in dotted lines. v Referring to the drawings, 10 designates themain fuse blocks which arranged in a desired number in a single panelform the b od of the series, and 11 is an end block at the upper andlower end of the series and the entire set secured to the base of thepanel box in the usual manner. Since the nature of my invention is notparticularly concerned with the particular character of the box in whichthe set is to be secured, no detailed description will be given of thebox, merely assuming that the various blocks will arranged in theorder`-illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and suitable arrangementsprovided for leading outside conductors through the panel walls forconnection with the various Y parts that will be herein described.

Referring to Fig. 2, it is to be noted that the block 10, comprises abase section 12 having legs 13 and an intermediate leg 14, the latterhaving a vertical aperture 15 leading upward to an enlarged opening 16designed to receive a screw for attaching the base 12 to `the suitablesupport, 'usually the base of a.

panel box.' It is to be noted as an especial advantage of myconstructionthat the head of the vscrew is'retained in this cavity 16,there being no need for the screw head projecting into the cover part1'( of the block.

The busu bars 18 are secured to the lower surface of the base member` byscrews 19, the samebe'ing sheltered in the arch between the legs 13 and14. The bus bars 18 extend substantially the length of the panel,terminating vjust beyond the screw 19 of the last main block at the topof the panel, and extending down into the lower end block, as will belater described more in detail.

Each main block 10 is provided with two spaced fuse sockets 20 whichare. provided in the cover section 17 only, so that when the cover isremoved, the sockets are carried with it; and unless the intermediateblocks are used in some special arrangement, the vbase sections 12 ofthese blocks may remain in position, while thecovers 17 are removed.This will be found to'be a great advantage where certain intermediateblocks of a panel are desired to be unused temporarily, though *with aslightly raised portion 21 having a vertical. aperture through which thescrew 19 extends with the head 22 resting u on the p projection 21, asthe screw is inserted t rough both sections and threaded into the busbar 18 below. Thus the screw 19 not only serves as an electric conductorbetween the base of the fuse socket and the bar, but also serves as thesole means for securing the sections of the block together. To furtherutilize the advantages of this structure, the lower edge this detailconsists in the fact that the strips 26 are also carried by the cover17, whereby when the screws 19 are removed, the cover may be lifted offcarrying with it the fuse sockets and the conducting strips 26. Theouter ends of the latter are provided with binding screws 28.

Any desired number of these intermediate blocks 10 may be provided andpositioned in parallelism to the approximate capacity 4of the panel boxin which they are to be mounted. It is desirable in any case to provideend blocks 11, no matter how large a number of the blocks 10 is used.The block 11 also comprises base -and'cover sections 29 and 30,respectively, the base section having the apertures 15 `and 16, just asin the base 12. It has however an elongated deep depression 31 separatedinto further depressions 32 by an intermediate raised portion 33. Thecentral screw is also used in this section for securing the entire blockto the panel base, but the end construction of 29 differs from 12 inthat the slotted end construction of the block is in the base sectionrather than in the cover. See the parts 34 separated by the trough 35',in Fig. 1. The lower surface of the section 29 is flat and smooth. Thesection 30 is bridgeshaped, the inner surface being hollowed outsomewhat at 36. The upper surface is also smooth, the ends of sections29 and 30 being secured together by screws 37. Between these sections,therefore, is a large opening or cavity that maybe utilized fordifferent purposes. When used at the upper end of the panel, aperforated plate 38 of conducting material is of a length adapted tobridge the shoulders 39 on the lower section29 and to which it issecured by fastening the middle portion of the plate 38 to the portion33 by screws 40. Other binding screws 41 are fas,- tened to the plate inposition to readily secure ends of conductors thereto. A projectingtubular connector 42 is secured to the end of the plate by screw 43 andis positioned in alinement with the slots 35 when the plate is inposition. The fastening of the cover 30 over this plate will thenprotect the latter from accidental contact with the main conductors.

When blocks 11 are used at the bottom end of the panel, the plate 38 isremoved'therefrom by removing the screws 40, and while the cover 30 isomitted the base is secured in position on the panel base with the lowerends of the bus bars overlapping the depressions 32, so that the tubularconnectors 44 onthe ends of the bars may aline with the slots 35', asshown in the drawings. cover 30 may then protect the connections betweenthe parts 18 and 44.

In assembling the blocks in a panelboard, end blocks 11 are arranged asshown in Fig. 1, though the base 29 is shown in that view reduced inwidth. The panel in Fig. 1 shows two intermediate blocks 10, only theupper one being' in commission. The operation of the arrangement willhowever be clear as nowY described. rllhe covers 30 are removed untilthe bases 29 of the end blocks are secured to the panel by screwspassing through the aperture l5. The blocks 11 are spaced suflicientlyapart to provide for the desired number of blocks 10 therebetween. .Thelower sections 12 of the intermediate or main blocks are then secured tothe base of the panel by similar screws passing through the apertures15, the heads of these screws remaining in the cavities 16 and notentering any portion of the upper .section 17. Assuming now, that tenblocks 10 are to be used of which number but seven are to be placedimmediately in commission, the other three not being used until there isa future need for them: The

The

bases 12 of the three unused blocks will be secured in position just thesame as the others, but the covers will be omitted.

Covers 17 with fuse sockets, as shown, and carrying the strips 26securedto the bottom of the sockets by the screws 27, will now beapplied to the seven blocks now to be wired, and the bus bars \18 willbe placed underneath all of the base sections 12, their ends extendinginto the sockets 32 of the base section 29 of the lower block 11. Screws19 will now be inserted in the fuse sockets of the seven blocks 10 andare screwed down into engagement with the bars 18, thus securing thesections together as well-as providing electrical connection between thesockets and the bar. No such connection will be made for the threeblocks out of commission.

For three wire service, conductors are led into the slots 35 to thetubular connectors 44 in the block 11 at one end, and another conductoris led in through the slot 35 of the upper section 11 and connected withthe tube 42. I therefore have three conductors 44, 42 and 44.Connections can now be made for any branch by leading one conductor froma suitable screw 41 of the plate 38 and another yconductor from one ofthe screws 28 of a plate 26. Suitable fuse plugs will now be screwedinto the sockets 2() making connection between the strip 26 and the bar18, completing the circuit.

For two wire circuits, branches from the tubes 44 are connected togetherand to a conductor from one pole, and the other conductor y connectedwith the tubular connector 42. The

branch connections are made as in three-wire service.

It is therefore seen that no fuse sockets are provided for the vacantblocks, the latter having no connection whatever with the others, otherthan being assembled ready for use when the cover sections with theirsockets and strips 26 are attached. Small sockets may be provided in theupper surface of 'the section 12 to receive the lower ends of the screws27 and 28, if it is desired. Further, a shallow depression may be formedin the same surface to permit the plate 26 to sink thereinto when thecover is applied, such v a structure tending to make the connectionbetween the sections more certain and stable.

It will now be seen that my sectional blocks make adjustability ofpanels to varying capacity very easy, and make it especially easy tothrow the vacant blocks into commission without making any change in thebus bars other than inserting the screws 19 when the socket sections areapplied. It is to be noted that the cover presents no connecting` deviceother than the plugs and the binding screws 28, the screws for securingthe blocks to the panel base not appearing above the cover. It isa-speeial feature of my construction that only the upper section in thegreat majority of cases will need removal or replacement, which rendersthe device exceedingly economical and simple. If a unit needs repair,the cover may be removed by/ merely withdrawing the screws 19 when itcan be repaired or replaced by a new one. The screws for fastening thelower section to a support may remain indeiinitely, and if thisparticular unit should not be needed, the fuse sockets may be removedaltogether without making any change in the bus bars. These changes willnot require special tools for the purpose, only the usual screw driverfor connecting parts together.

My structure is one susceptible of molding the individual sections ofsuitable insulating material, as will be understood, thus rendering itscommercial manufact-ure economical and rapid.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby 'Letters Patent:

1. A fuse block havd'ng superposed elongated sections of equal lengthdetachably connected together, the base section having spaced bus barsextending thereunder and across its axis and means between said bars forsecuring the base section to a support, and a. cover section concealingsaid securing means, said cover section carrying a fuse socket and aconnector element extending laterally from said socket.

2. A fuse block of the character described comprising anintegrally-molded cover section detachable from an integrally-moldedbase section, the latter having means for securing the same to thebottom wall of a box, and carrying spaced bus bars for connection withcorresponding base sections of other blocks of a series, the severalcover sections each carrying fuse sockets and lateral connectingmembers, and means serving for detachably connecting the sections ofeach block together and for conductively connecting a socket with a busbar.

3. A fuse block having superposed integral sections of equal length, thebase section having bus bars positioned thereunder, and the coversections carrying fuse sockets symmetrically arranged thereon andconnecting members leading to said sockets, and securing means ofconducting material passing through the bottoms of said sockets andthrough the said block sections for detachable engagement with said barsfor securin the sections together.

4. A fuse block comprising superposed sections of equal length, the basesection carrying spaced bus bars underneath and the cover sectioncarrying fuse sockets thereon and connector elements extending laterallytherefrom, underneath said cover section, means passing through saidbase section between said bars for securing the base block to the bottomof a panel box, and conducting means, passing through both sections,detachably securing the bottom of the fuse sockets directly to the busbars, respectively.

5. A fuse block comprising superposed detachable sections, the basesection having three lower supports spaced apart, there being a verticalaperture through the intermediate supports for receiving means thereinfor securing the block to a panel base, the cover section carryingspaced fuse sockets therein, the latter being in registry with aperturesthrough the base section to receive connectors therethrough for securingbus bars therebeneath, and conducting means extending laterally fromsaid sockets and provided with binding connectors.

6. In a panel box, the combination of a series of fuse blocks, eachblock comprising superposed detachable sections, the base sections ofeach block having means for securing the same separately to a suitablesupport and carrying spaced bus bars thereunder extendsuperposeddetachable sections, the base section of each block having means forsecuring the same to the base .of the box, and carrying spaced bus barsthereunder extending longitudinally of the box, the several coversections carrying fuse sockets thereon, the sections ot' each blockhaving apertures therethrough extending from the bottom of the socketsofthe cover sections to the bars underneath the base sections, andsecuring means in said apertures for removably securing the sectionstogether and the said sockets to the bars, whereby the bus bars and thebase sections may remain in position While the cover sections and theirfuse sockets are being removed for repair or replacerying spaced fusesockets, electric-ally and mechanically connected With said bus bars,and connecting members electrically connected with said sockets.

In testimony Whereof'I hereunto aiiix my signature.

FRANK T. KOVAR.r

